A poinsettia for Christmas
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382440)
Rockingham, Australia
December 20, 2024 6:14pm CST
We know quite a few people in the village but we often get together with two other couples. We take it in turns to go to each other’s house most Tuesdays after the movie night and enjoy socialising together. It’s so easy just to walk a few hundred metres from one house to another without having to drive.
The last few Christmases we’ve also exchanged small gifts. This year, I was given a poinsettia which you can see in the photo. I gave our friends quirky garden ornaments but forgot to take photos of them.
One couple have gone to Esperance for Christmas and I have to put their rubbish bins out. If they’ve placed it in the garden somewhere, perhaps I’ll get the chance to take a photo of it then.
18 people like this
16 responses
@DaddyEvil (174657)
• United States
21 Dec 24
@JudyEv As far as I can remember, the "unnatural conditions" to get poinsettias to bloom is to keep them in the dark for five months so they'll set buds to bloom. Supposedly, keeping them alive and happy is "easy", or so the person at the greenhouse told me. 
Most plants love me and try to take over my flowerbeds/garden or the pots in the house. I've only had trouble with poinsettias and African violets. I touch them and they die. 
Most plants love me and try to take over my flowerbeds/garden or the pots in the house. I've only had trouble with poinsettias and African violets. I touch them and they die. 2 people like this
@JudyEv (382440)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 24
@xFiacre @DaddyEvil I don't expect this to last for long. They're grown under unnatural conditions so they flower at Christmas so that probably doesn't help. They would normally flower in the spring so September/November for us.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
21 Dec 24
We had several of those but they too disappeared along with many other flowers
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
21 Dec 24
@JudyEv In my case it is those wild trees that make my flowers disappear
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135966)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Dec 24
@JudyEv I agree with you on that. They don't look real
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128840)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec 24
I love poinsettias and think they are a beautiful holiday plant, but they become so blah and mundane after they lose their red color in their leaves. Plus, I seem to have a hard time keeping them alive.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128840)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 24
@JudyEv In fairness, I have trouble keeping any plant alive. 
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@snowy22315 (209132)
• United States
21 Dec 24
I have a poinsettia too where is Esperance? I have heard of it
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (209132)
• United States
21 Dec 24
@JudyEv Oh OK Thanks. I was totally wrong. I wad thinking it might be near Spain or something.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
21 Dec 24
They really are lovely..I like them Judy.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86836)
• United States
21 Dec 24
Very bright leaves on the poinsettia! I suppose that’s because it’s warm season there, as opposed to the poinsettias here growing in greenhouses because it’s cold.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (40058)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Dec 24
That's beautiful. I really like Poinsettias.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56374)
• Canada
22 Dec 24
Every year without fail my husband brings me a poinsettia for Christmas.
Some say that they wouldn't want one as they are poisonous to animals, but we've always had animals and they never paid any attention to the plant.
I think that the exchanging is fun and your plant looks great in the sunshine here.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56374)
• Canada
23 Dec 24
@JudyEv Yes, I always had several in the home.
I remember our friend, who owned the only market in our little rural village was gifted a nice big huge one for Christmas one year. She kept it out on the counter and received many compliments on it.
As soon as January 2nd came, she and her husband spoke to me privately and asked if I would take it as they were starting to see it fail and they knew that I loved those plants and could nurse it back to health and offer it a safe and healthy home. We had that plant for over 10 years I recall.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Dec 24
That's a lovely poinsettia. You are lucky to have friends within walking distance. Have a good weekend.
2 people like this
@aureategloom (11025)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
21 Dec 24
it looks like a nice gift, i just realized that i know one lady that celebrates Christmas and that plant seems like a very nice gift if i get to see her. it's translated as "Bozicna zvijezda" meaning Christmas star 
2 people like this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
1 Jan 25
I like only having to go over town and across the street for my husband and my families Christmas gatherings. So I understand how nice that was for you to only have to walk a few hundred meters.
I was glad my husband didn’t bring a poinsettia home this year the cat destroyed it last year and they are toxic to them so I was worried.
1 person likes this
